Your Questions About Education

New York Times

2 days ago

In a recent newsletter, we asked for your questions about education. You wondered about student loans, the Columbia settlement and international students, among other topics. Today, The Times's expert beat reporters answer. (Got a question for us? Submit it here.)
Student debt
More than anything else, readers wondered about how they'd pay for college. Tara Siegel Bernard, who covers personal finance, fields these questions:
How will the passage of the federal policy bill change Pell Grants and access to higher education for students from low-income families? Karen Stanish, Keene, N.H.
Many people may find that pursuing higher education is more difficult or more expensive. Students who rely on their parents to take out loans will face new borrowing limits, as will graduate students. And new work requirements for Medicaid could make it harder to balance school with a job. On the other hand, students will be able to use Pell Grants for nondegree programs, like job training. But if students get other types of grants that fully cover the cost of attendance — from the school, from a state government, from a local scholarship — they can no longer get a Pell.
Not enough has been said about the federal loan cap on graduate education (medical school, law school, etc.) from the policy bill. What is the change, and how will schools adjust? Matt Kleinman, Washington, D.C.
Loans for professional schools will have a cap of $50,000 per year, with a $200,000 total limit, starting in July 2026. That is far less than the cost of training to be, say, a dentist or a doctor, as my colleague Roni Caryn Rabin reported. Some students might turn to private lenders.
Average cost of public higher education in the U.S.
$30,000
$24,920
for the
2024–25
school year
$20,000
$10,000
1980-81
'90-91
'00-01
'10-11
'20-21
$30,000
$24,920 for
the 2024–25
school year
$20,000
$10,000
1980-81
'90-91
'00-01
'10-11
'20-21
Note: Data is in-state tuition and cost of room and board in 2024 dollars.
Source: College Board
By The New York Times
Government action
The Trump administration has accused several universities of fostering antisemitism and practicing discrimination through diversity programs; it has held back billions in government grants. Readers have watched these battles, sometimes with confusion. Michael C. Bender, who covers the president's domestic policy agenda, answers queries about them.
Does the president have the power to demand concessions from our research universities and colleges, and, if so, why? Ruth D. Sundberg
President Trump may make any demands he likes, but he cannot simply compel colleges to implement them. He's bound by federal law and the government's own rules. A lawsuit from Harvard, for instance, hinges largely on an argument that the government skipped specific fact-finding procedures before it imposed penalties. Still, the executive branch holds immense power, and receiving government contracts has always required some willingness to comply with an administration's priorities.
Columbia University will pay $200 million to settle government investigations. Where does that money go? Ina Fried, Schenectady, N.Y.
That money will go to the U.S. Treasury. But one senior White House official told reporters that Trump hoped Congress (which wields the constitutional power of the purse) would spend it on trade schools, apprenticeships or other work force training programs.
My daughter is transferring to an H.B.C.U. in the fall. Has the Trump administration indicated any intent to go after historically Black colleges and universities in any way? Curtis Morgan, Strasburg, Va.
No, not in the same broad way that the administration has targeted Ivy League schools. But historically Black colleges have not been immune from changes, either. Howard University lost some funding. Under the Trump administration, Tennessee State University lost a significant portion of its research budget and grants to cover tuition and housing for agricultural students.
Funding
Many of you sent questions about how the schools bear up in these conflicts. Alan Blinder, who has written about how universities spend their money, answers.
Are public and private universities equally susceptible to challenges from the Trump administration? Charles Wain-Nye, Florida
The government's pressure tactics may vary from school to school, but it doesn't seem to discriminate between public and private universities. Harvard is a major target, but so is the University of Virginia for its diversity policies. Three of the 10 schools that a government antisemitism task force identified for scrutiny are public institutions. These are all in places that voted for Kamala Harris, but the red-blue binary isn't absolute, either. In March, for example, the Education Department announced an investigation into the University of Alabama at Birmingham for 'race-based scholarships and race-based segregation.'
Big universities have used their vast financial resources to absorb the impact of disputes with the administration. How are Trump's policies affecting smaller colleges? Chris Watson, Fenwick Island, Del.
Researchers at schools of all sizes, even community colleges, have seen grants evaporate. And it's not just about research money. The administration wants schools to end D.E.I. programs, and the policy bill included changes for some financial aid programs. Many administrators, given the political climate, are thinking hard about which courses to offer and how to describe them.
Some colleges are exploring ways to reduce their reliance on federal funding. Can they realistically sustain themselves without it? Anna Westbrook, Rochester, N.Y.
Big research institutions depend on federal research funding: About 11 percent of Harvard's revenue is from federally sponsored research, though that kind of money also flows to much smaller schools. Private philanthropy and corporate giving could plug some of the gaps, but it's hard to imagine how American universities can find a combined $60 billion in recurring annual revenue. Say you were able to assemble a bunch of companies and individuals to create a privately run research endowment. If you doled out 5 percent each year — a common standard to ensure an endowment's long-term endurance — you'd need a fund with about $1.2 trillion.
International students
Many universities depend on students who need a special visa to attend. Anemona Hartocollis, who covers higher education, answers your questions about them.
Should international students applying to U.S. universities be worried? How will the new developments affect them? Susie Cochin de Billy, Britain
Nine out of 10 institutions still consider international recruitment a priority because it brings in a lot of money and talent. But the administration has tried to deport some students for their activism. In late March and early April, the government revoked visas or terminated legal status for more than 1,000 international students. A trade group has sued Marco Rubio, the secretary of state, over 'ideological deportation.' Admitted students, too, seem to be having a harder time getting visas, said a lawyer behind the suit. Government officials appear to be reviewing the social media feeds of applicants in search of pro-Palestinian sentiment or criticism of Trump.
If fewer international students come here, will that lift the acceptance rate for U.S. citizens? Stef Morgan, Boulder, Colo.
In theory, that could open up seats. But international students often pay full tuition, which subsidizes financial aid for American applicants. Losing these paying students would mean a financial blow, and universities could react by admitting fewer students overall.
Share of international students
Among full-time undergraduate and graduate students at 193 U.S. colleges
15% of students
Covid
10%
5%
2000
2005
2010
2015
2023
15% of students
Covid
10%
5%
2000
2005
2010
2015
2023
2020
Based on fall enrollment at schools that offer bachelor's degrees and above, with at least 1,000 students.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Carnegie Classification
By The New York Times
More on higher ed: Harvard is said to be open to spending as much as $500 million to end its dispute with Trump.
Manhattan Shooting
A gunman with an assault rifle killed four people, and then himself, in a Manhattan office building last night.
What happened? The man drove from Nevada and double parked in front of the skyscraper. In the lobby, he shot and killed a police officer, a woman trying to hide behind a pillar and a security guard behind a desk. He let a woman leaving an elevator go unharmed, then he rode it to the offices of a real-estate firm on the 33rd floor. There, he fatally shot a final victim and killed himself.
Why did he do it? The motive isn't clear. The skyscraper was near the site of another high-profile Midtown attack: the killing of a health insurance executive.
More details:
The police officer killed was an immigrant from Bangladesh, with two children. His wife is pregnant with their third. Read about Officer Didarul Islam here.
Employees at Blackstone, an investment company in the building, barricaded the doors using office furniture, The New York Post reports.
War in Gaza
Trump said that children in Gaza 'look very hungry' and spoke of 'real starvation' in the enclave, breaking from Israeli officials who have denied that people are starving there.
Britain may recognize a Palestinian state, two senior government officials said, joining France and alienating Israel.
Two of Israel's best-known human rights groups said Israel was committing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza.
Most Israelis still support the war in Gaza, but dissent is growing louder.
In March, Israel ended a truce with Hamas, hoping for a final victory. It didn't work, Patrick Kingsley writes.
War in Ukraine
Trump said he would give Russia 10 to 12 days to end the war in Ukraine or else face further sanctions. He previously spoke of a 50-day deadline.
Russia has countered Ukrainian drones by imposing unpredictable internet blackouts on Russian cellphone networks.
More International News
Colombia convicted a former president, Álvaro Uribe, of bribery.
Heavy rains in and around Beijing left at least 38 people dead. Flooding and landslides trapped villagers.
After a five-year drought and decades of mismanagement, Iran risks running out of water within weeks.
Finland's summers are short, precious and plagued by geese. They poop all over beaches.
Economy
Tariffs on Europe could make drugs like Ozempic more expensive.
The French government opposes the E.U.'s trade deal with the United States, calling instead for tariff retaliation.
A 'monster week' of economic news could help clarify how the U.S. is performing.
Politics
Instant Pot wanted to produce Trump-themed appliances. But it didn't have permission, and the Trump Organization's lawyers stopped it.
Senate Democrats demanded all recordings and transcripts from last week's Justice Department interviews with Ghislaine Maxwell, Jeffrey Epstein's longtime partner, who is in prison for sex trafficking. (Late night hosts covered Epstein last night.)
Other Big Stories
Sending monthly checks to poor parents did not improve their children's well-being, new research shows.
Most liver cancer is preventable, researchers found. The disease is linked to alcohol consumption.
Exercise, eat well, challenge your brain and spend time with people. You've heard this advice from doctors for years.
But a large new study published yesterday is a reminder that these habits really do work. People at risk for dementia — those with sedentary lifestyles and suboptimal diets — were urged to eat healthy, socialize, work out and train their minds with computer games.
Cognitive scores shot up. Read more about the results here. — Pam Belluck, who covers neuroscience and brain health
Zohran Mamdani won New York City's Democratic primary for mayor in part by listening to small businesses. Mainstream Democrats should follow his example, writes Lina Khan, a former chair of the Federal Trade Commission.
Here's a column by Thomas Edsall on Trump and crypto.
The 36 who fought back: Read about women in Guatemala who sought justice, years after they were raped in war.
Claw grip: Women are showing off how much they can hold without a purse.
Your pick: The most-clicked story in The Morning yesterday was about whether bread in Europe is healthier.
Trending: People were searching online for Ryne Sandberg, a Hall of Fame second baseman whose Chicago Cubs career earned him a statue outside Wrigley Field. He died at 65 of prostate cancer.
M.L.B.: The Cleveland Guardians pitcher Emmanuel Clase was placed on paid leave as the league investigates sports betting.
W.N.B.A.: A Texas man received a two-and-a-half-year prison sentence for harassing and stalking Caitlin Clark.
Astronomer — the tech company whose executives featured in the Coldplay camera debacle — got creative with its crisis management. It hired Gwyneth Paltrow, the ex-wife of the band's frontman Chris Martin, to answer questions on video as a 'temporary spokesperson.'
The first question onscreen: 'OMG! What the actual f'
See the video here.
More on culture: An American Eagle ad featuring Sydney Sweeney and claiming she has 'great jeans' is facing accusations about eugenics, The Washington Post reports.
Toss cucumber and avocado to make a delicious salad.
Get more out of your appliances, including your dryer and garbage disposal, with these tricks.
Become a D.J. Even reality stars are doing it as a side hustle.
Here is today's Spelling Bee. Yesterday's pangrams were workman and workwoman.
And here are today's Mini Crossword, Wordle, Connections, Sports Connections and Strands.
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